Conditions in Occupational Therapy: Effect on Occupational Performance by Ben Atchison & Diane Dirette

Author:Ben Atchison & Diane Dirette [Atchison, Ben]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Wolters Kluwer Health
Published: 2016-07-17T16:00:00+00:00

Description and Definitions

A stroke, or brain attack, results from an interruption in the blood flow to the brain from either a blocked or ruptured blood vessel. The consequence is an inadequate supply of oxygen and nutrients to this vital organ. Even a brief disruption of this blood flow can lead to brain damage. Medical practitioners use the term “cerebrovascular accident,” often abbreviated as CVA, for stroke. A CVA can occur in any part of the brain, the cerebral hemispheres, the cerebellum, or the brainstem. The site and extent of the affected area, or infarct, determines loss of function.

CVAs are divided into two main types: ischemic and hemorrhagic. Ischemic strokes are characterized by blockages (the term ischemia refers to the lack of blood supply) and include atherothrombotic, lacunar, and embolic infarctions, in that order of frequency. Hemorrhagic strokes include intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhages (Broderick et al., 2007). Both types of stroke lead to the death, or infarction, of brain tissue. CVA terminology involves a complex composition of pathophysiological entities that include thrombosis, embolism, and hemorrhage (Saenger & Christenson, 2011). In most cases, a loss of blood supply is the result of long-standing degeneration of the body’s blood vessels. Less commonly, a CVA occurs because of an inborn abnormality or weakness of the brain’s vascular supply (Ferguson, 2010). A brief review of cerebral circulation will help understand the impact of each type of stroke.

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